Combined wall receptacle and switch



July 3, 1962 D. H. HUNT COMBINED WALL RECEPTACLE AND SWITCH Filed June8, 1959 INVENTOR.

Dav/0 Hu/v T.

HTTOENEK Unite 'tTQtCS atent OllilCC 3,042,765 Patented July 3, 1 962This invention relates to a Combined Wall Receptacle and Switch forcentral vacuum cleaning systems, and more particularly to a wallreceptacle having an electric switch for closing an electric circuit andcausing operation of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus upon theinsertion of a vacuum cleaner hose into the receptacle.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means forautomatically energizing the electric motor of a vacuum cleaningapparatus upon the insertion of a vacuum cleaner hose into a receptaclelocated in any part of a building containing a central vacuum cleaningsystem.

A further object is to provide a receptacle which is highly efficient inits operation and trouble-free.

A still further object is to provide an electric switch in a Wallreceptacle which is protected against short circuits and which isnormally protected against dust and dirt.

pressed outwardly with respect to the switch casing. When the plunger 12isin its fully extended position, the switch mechanism is open, and whensaid plunger is depressed, the switch mechanism closes. Said switch issecured to the mounting block 8 by screws 13-13 in a position whereinthe plunger 12 projects axially into a radial hole 14 extending throughthe said wall of the receptacle body 5. The inner end portion of saidhole 14 is of a reduced diameter to provide an annular seat 15' in saidwall for an operating ball 16 which, when engaged with said seat'15,projects into the bore S-a and prevents the passage of air through thehole 14.

A disc 17 of resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is disposedin the hole 14 between the ball 16 and the plunger 12 to form aresilient connection therebetween through which the plunger 12 may beactuated by outward, radial movement of the ball. Any movement of theball in excess of that allowed by the plunger is taken up by theresiliency of the disc 17 so as to prevent damage to the electric switchfrom movement of the plunger 12 beyond the limit allowed in the switchmechanism.

The switch 11 is provided with suitable terminals 7 18-48 to receive theelectrical conductors leading to Another object is the provision ofnovel means for Further objects and advantages of the present inventionWill be more fully understood from the following description and theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a wallreceptacle constructed in accordace with my invention.

FIG. 2is an end-view thereof with the cover omitted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end view, partly in section, takenon line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, plan view of the electric switch used in saidreceptacle and the mounting block therefor.

FIG. 5 is a reduced, elevational view of the end of a conventionalvacuum cleaner hose which is adaptedto be inserted into said receptacle.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in central vacuumcleaning systems of the conventional type which generally include acentral vacuum cleaner that is connected to wall receptacles in variousparts of a building by means of suitable piping. It will be readilyunderstood that in such systems all of the wall receptacles must beairtight, otherwise, air could leak into the system through thereceptacles which are not in use and severely reduce the efficiency ofthe system.

The present invention provides a novel switch arrangement whichovercomes the above mentioned problem and, as shown in the drawing, maybe embodied in a conventional wall receptacle having a tubular bodyportion 5 with a cylindrical wall defining a hose-receiving bore 5-aextending axially thereof and an external screw thread 6 at its innerend by means of which the receptacle may be connected to the piping ofthe vacuum cleaner system in the well known manner. A cover 7 ishingedly mounted on said receptacle and is spring pressed to a positionnormally closing the bore S-a.

In accordance with my invention, a mounting block 8 is secured to a flatsurface 9 formed on the exterior of said receptacle by means of a screw10 which is the relay for the electric motor which drives the vacuum 7cleaning apparatus. It will be understood that each switch 11 in thevacuum cleaning system is adapted to operate said relay independently sothat said motor will be energized whenever the-vacuum cleaner hose isinserted into any one of the/receptacles in the system.

When it is desired to use a vacuum cleaner nozzle in any part of thebuilding in which the system is contained, the cover 7 of the mostconvenient receptacle is lifted and the conventional tubular connector19 which is attaohed to the hose 20 (see FIG. 5) is inserted in the bore5-a of the receptacle. The said connector slidably fits the receptacleand will thus engage the ball 16 and force it outwardly. This will causedepression of the plunger 12, through the'resilient disc 17, to closethe electric switch and thereby close the electric circuit to the motorfor the vacuum cleaning apparatus to cause operation of said system. Inthe event that said ball 16 is moved outwardly further than the limit ofmovement of said plunger 12, any excess movement of the ball will betaken up by the resiliency of the disc 17 and damage to the switch isthereby prevented.

When the hose connector '19 is pulled out of the receptacle, the plunger12 and the ball 16 will move radially inwardly under the influence ofthe spring in the switch 11 permitting said switch to open and the ball16 to assume its normal position against the seat 15 to seal the hole 14against the passage of air. It will be apparent, therefore, that whenthe cover 7 is closed no leakage of air into the system can occurthrough those receptacles which are not'in use.

-I claim:

1. A receptacle for the connector on a vacuum cleaner hose comprising; abody portion having a cylindrical wall defining an axial bore therein toreceive said connector communicating with said bore, a supporting blockmounted upon the exterior of said wall adjacent to said radial opening,an electric switch mounted on said supporting block and having a springpressed operating plunger extending therefrom into said radial opening,the inner end of said radial opening being of a reduced diameter toprovide a seat, an operating ball movable in said radial opening andseated upon said seat and extending into said bore, and a resilientdisc-shaped member between said ball and plunger, the said ball beingmovable upon the insertion of said hose connector into said bore tocause movement of said plunger through said resilient member foroperating said switch.

2. A receptacle for the connector on a vacuum cleaner hose comprising abody portion having a Wall defining a bore therein adapted to receivesaid connector and an opening extending through said wall radially ofand cornmunicating with said bore, an annular seat adjacent the innerend of said opening, an electric switch mounted exteriorly of said bodyportion, a ball member movable in said opening, said ball member beingnormally seated upon said annular seat in sealing engagement therewithand when so seated projecting into said bore, and means providing anoperative connection between said ball memher and said electric switch,said ball member being engageable by said connector upon insertionthereof into said bore and movable radially outwardly in said opening tocause operation of said switch through said connecting means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSOrmiston et a1 July 21, 1908 Kellogg Feb. 5, 1918 Melcher Feb. 22, 1927Sohwier et a1. Sept. 24, 1929 Steigleder Aug. 30, 1932 Morris July 5,1938 Cogshall May 13, 1952 De Pascale Nov. 26, 1957 Stoicos Mar. 10,1959 Scanlan et a1. Dec. 1, 1959

